Physical asset

Physical asset

Actual property such as precious metals or real estate. Also called real or tangible assets.

Tangible Asset

In accounting, any asset that can be seen and touched. Tangible assets include things that can be reproduced, such as widgets or a widget factory, and things that cannot be reproduced, such as the land upon which the widget factory is built. Tangible assets are comparatively easy to price, and therefore they are often used to express the value of a company. However, because they do not include intangible but still valuable things like patents and brand recognition, they may not truly express a company's value. Less commonly, tangible assets are called hard assets. See also: Intangible Assets.